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Why It's Important to See a Doctor
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are a form of irregular heartbeats. These extra beats are generally not dangerous and can be cured by themselves.
To determine PVC, doctors will listen to your heartbeat, and also check other vital signs. They may order an Holter Monitor which captures the electrical impulses of your heart over a span of between 24 and 48 hours. They can also request blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and thyroid hormones.
Diagnosis
PVCs are caused by electrical impulses that misfire through the SA node, a structure in the lower chambers of the heart. This delays the next heartbeat, causing a feeling of skipped beats or fluttering in the chest. PVCs can occur in isolation, or in repeated patterns. Two consecutive PVCs are referred to as doublets, whereas three or more consecutive PVCs constitute the term ventricular Tachycardia (VT).
Some people don't experience any symptoms at all Some experience palpitations, which could feel like the heart beating faster or slower. Other signs include dizziness, fatigue, or a feeling that you're unwell.
Many people who have occasional PVCs do not require any treatment. If a patient is experiencing frequent episodes, a physician might recommend a change in diet or lifestyle. For instance, limiting caffeine, stress, and alcohol. They can also prescribe medications, such as calcium channel blockers or beta-blockers that can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Doctors will ask the patient about their medical history and perform an examination of the body to assess their general health. They may also use a Holter monitor to record the heart's rhythms for longer periods of time, or an electrocardiogram, which captures a picture of the electrical activity within the heart. In certain cases doctors may request blood tests to look for an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicity.
A pvc physician may refer patients to an electrophysiologist, or a specialist in heart rhythm disorders for further examination. This specialist can confirm the diagnosis of PVCs and determine whether they are benign or not.
PVCs are everywhere and are generally not harmful unless they are used regularly or for a long time. This can cause a weakening in the heart muscle, or a condition called pvc-induced cardiomyopathy. This is more prevalent in older adults or people suffering from heart disease. It can also occur in healthy people with normal heart function, but it is more likely to occur in those who exercise regularly. It is not a major problem, but it is important to inform your doctor if symptoms such as fainting or fatigue occur.
Treatment
For many people, occasional PVCs aren't likely to cause symptoms or are harmless and need no treatment. If you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat, it's best to see a doctor right away.
A cardiologist will begin by interviewing you and doing a physical exam, monitoring your heart using an stethoscope to detect any irregular heartbeats. You will also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) done that records the electrical impulses that occur in your heart and reveal any arrhythmias. If an arrhythmia is discovered it is recommended to use an portable ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitor is required to document the abnormal rhythm for longer periods of time. These devices will help doctors determine if you have PVCs and the cause of them, like an electrolyte imbalance or drug toxicities, or other causes.
An echocardiogram, an ultrasound of your heart, could be ordered to determine if your heart is healthy and check for indications of structural issues that could lead to PVCs. You could also be asked to undergo stress tests to determine the response of your heart to exercise. Exercise can increase your frequency of pvcs. You may also be able to have blood tests to check your thyroid, potassium, and magnesium hormone levels to determine whether they are low and can cause the formation of PVCs.
After your doctor has determined that you suffer from PVCs and has ruled out any serious diseases, the decision on whether to treat them will depend on the degree to which they're affecting your life and how frequently they occur. If they only occur occasionally and do not cause any symptoms the doctor is not likely to recommend any treatment to reduce their frequency or severity.
However, if you have frequent PVCs that cause palpitations and other symptoms, such as light-headedness or feeling like you're going to faint, your doctor might recommend medications, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. Lifestyle changes such as abstaining from smoking, caffeine, and excessive stress can reduce the frequency of these abnormal pulses.
Prevention
A person may experience no symptoms at all from PVCs or heart palpitations (irregular heartbeats) which can be felt as "skipped" beats or fluttering in the chest. Sometimes, more tips here trigger a fullness or pressure in the chest. Other times, they can make someone feel faint. These episodes happen because the heart isn't functioning as efficiently as it should. PVCs are associated with a higher risk of developing dilated cardiac myopathy. This is a condition in which the heart expands and becomes in a position to not pump blood.
PVCs are usually caused by changes in body chemistry. They can be caused by the release of adrenaline and thyroid hormones, in addition to drinking caffeine or alcohol. Stress or weight gain and the absence of exercise can trigger these symptoms.
Some people find that changing their diet may help to reduce the number of PVCs. For instance, they could avoid foods with preservatives, which can cause a disturbance in the heartbeat, for example disodium guanylate (E621) disodium inosinate (E627), and diazole sodium (E282-283). It is also recommended to consume more fruits and vegetables to ensure they are getting sufficient magnesium and potassium.
Regular health checks are important and include annual physicals. These can help diagnose any underlying heart conditions that could be the cause of your PVCs. You should also follow a healthy eating plan and refrain from smoking, which can increase the frequency of your episodes.
A survey of healthcare staff on 14 normal hospital wards found that they were mostly aware of the preventive measures that could be used to treat vascular catheter-related infections, but that their self-assessed compliance with these measures was not great. Compliance improved after an intervention to improve feedback however it was still very low on a few of the wards that were surveyed. This suggests that training is required on how to implement preventive measures and those wards that are not conforming should be targeted for infection monitoring. These data can be used to guide quality improvement initiatives in these wards. This could involve additional education and training for personnel. It will also involve making sure that the correct tools are available for implementing of the preventive measures.
Symptoms
The premature contraction of the ventricular muscle can cause your heartbeat to skip beats or be fluttering. These arrhythmias may be normal, or they could indicate that you have heart issues that are serious.
In healthy people, PVCs that occur occasionally are not a problem. They generally disappear by themselves. If you're suffering from a lot of them, they can cause weakness or dizziness. Consult your doctor if worried. They might need to diagnose the issue by taking an medical history and conducting a physical exam. They may also want to conduct an electrocardiogram, or other tests.
An ECG is a simple test that will allow your doctor to detect the signal of your heartbeat as it moves through your heart in the course of a brief period of time. The test will determine if you have PVCs. Your doctor may also recommend the use of a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over a longer period of time. They can help distinguish PVCs from other arrhythmias which cause heart palpitations. You can wear an event monitor, a portable device that tracks your heart's rhythm over 30 days.
Other tests for your heart might be required, based on the reason for your PVCs. For example, a cardiologist might check your blood pressure, and also perform an ultrasound of your heart (echocardiogram). This can help determine the presence of a medical condition that may be causing your PVCs or heart valves, such as cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse or heart failure.
Your doctor may also be required to conduct an analysis of your blood to determine the issue with your electrolytes. For example, low potassium or high levels of calcium. This can be a sign of PVCs or other conditions that could cause them, such as anemia and anxiety disorders.
You may be referred to a specialist in electrophysiology, who treats abnormal heart rhythms. If you have heart disease that is structural the doctor may need to perform additional tests, like an MRI or CT scan of your chest. These tests can determine if you have damage to your heart, and how serious it is. In certain cases, a doctor might suggest a pacemaker or ICD to treat the underlying issue creating your PVCs.
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